1. 2012.6

2. HELLO SUMMER
June is the month that marks the beginning of summer here
in China, where more flowers have been blooming, more sun
shining and more stories unfolding.
Collected in this issue is the latest in social happenings,
online meme and pop culture which includes music, movies,
TV, as well as online games.
This month’s design is inspired by the season itself. Ricky Li,
our feature designer, explains that summer is made up of
living particles of all shapes, colors and sizes therefor he has
sprinkled the entire issue with colorful patterns as a tribute
to the season.

3. CHINA SNAPSHOT
NEW TERMS OF THE MONTH
POP CHINA

4. CHINA SNAPSHOT
NEW TERMS OF THE MONTH
POP CHINA

5. INJECTED
FOR SUCCESS
June is the month of the Gao Kao (national college
entrance examination), one of the most strenuous time
for Chinese youth.
This year’s Gao Kao goes to the extreme in a middle
school in Hubei province, where high school seniors
inject themselves with amino acid through an IV drip
bag to boost energy and mental concentration.
There’s more. To avoid wasting time travelling from
the classroom to the clinic, the school has arranged
students to receive the injections right in the classroom
as they study their way into the night.
Photos from Southern Metropolitan Daily
CHINA SNAP SHOT

6. GO
DELAYERS!
A cheerleading squad was spotted cheering in front of
5,000 passengers in the Dalian Zhoushuizi International
Airport.
This was an attempt to appease the 5,000 passengers
who were delayed due to thick fog.
According to the airport, this is their way to showcase
human-centered customer service, one of airport’s
core value.
Photos from Netease
CHINA SNAP SHOT

7. BEATING
THE RUSH HOUR
New businesses across China have begun introducing
a service where they offer substitute drivers during
traffic jams for just 400RMB. (1USD = 6.3RMB)
The company will dispatch 2 drivers to you once you
call for their service. One will drive you with to your
destination with an electric bicycle, while the other
driver replaces you and eventually drives your car to
your designated location.
Companies will prepare contract beforehand to
guarantee the competence and liability of the drivers.
Great business idea to solve everyday problems.
CHINA SNAP SHOT

8. Photo from Want China Times
REACHING
Zhang Wuyi has always wanted to build something.
After losing his job at a textile factory in 2008, Zhang,
with only a high school education rented an abandoned
NEW DEPTHS
plant to begin research on building a submarine. In
order to fund his invention, he sold all of his family
property and borrowed large sums of money from
family and friends.
Finally in May 2012, Zhang successfully tested his
submarine in a press conference that attracted not just
local media but also international media including Al
Jazeera and Elle Men.
Having spent over 3million RMB (480,000USD), and
failed numerous times, his submarines are now on sale
and he has already acquired orders from 3 customers.
CHINA SNAP SHOT

9. EXPO OF LOVE
More than 20,000 lonely hearts attended the
matchmaking event at Shanghai’s Expo Park this May.
Attendees were encouraged to wear masquerade
masks at the beginning of the event, which can be
removed later when the dating session begins.
Walls were plastered full of singleton’s profiles which
include name, age, education, profession, monthly salary
as well as number of cars, apartments, etc.
The standards people require of a partner have
changed with modern dating. The importance placed on
material factors is increasing more than ever.
This quote basically sums up the single scene of China:
“In Chinese society, women prefer to marry men who
are older, wealthier and more capable; men prefer the
opposite,” says Zhai. “So in cities, those left behind are
seen as the ‘best women and worst men’ [highflying
women; underachieving men].”
CHINA SNAP SHOT

10. CHINA SNAPSHOT
NEW TERMS OF THE MONTH
POP CHINA

11. DIAOSI
Diaosi men have now come to everyone’s attention
thanks to a chatroom that gave birth to the term.
Diaosi is used to describe young men from humble
屌絲
origins who have worked hard to earn their university
degrees but have hard times finding well-paying jobs.
Diaosi can also be used to describe young men from
the lower status of society who have not received
much schooling. In other words, the word describes
men who are ‘poor, short, and ugly’.
Diaosi with university degrees feel angry because their
efforts have not given them an advantage in the job
market. Diaosi who did not attend good schools or
dropped out of school to work usually have an even
harder time.
Chinese netizens have also added a humorous layer to
the term to make fun of men who are inferior in terms
of looks, education and financial status, yet dreams big
of living the successful life that comes with a trophy
girlfriend or wife, which in reality is almost impossible
for them.
Despite the condescending definition, humble men
across China identify themselves with the term,
accepting their ‘fate’. As it turns out, Diaosi online
groups being to grow with more and more members by
the day.
“I don’t feel alone anymore, I am so glad I can share my
frustration with others who look and feel the same way
as I do.” – Anonymous Diaosi
The opposite of a Diaosi is a
“tall, handsome and rich” man.
NE W TERM S OF THE MONTH

12. GOD FATHER
干爹
When a young and attractive woman claims an older
man her god father, she actually means Sugar Daddy.
‘God Fathers’ are usually older, wealthier, and often
married and look for young model-looking girls to be
his mistress. And vice versa.
Mistresses can go as young as college girls, and they
come with a price also dubbed as ‘monthly allowance’.
God fathers also tend to shower their god daughters
with gifts. Many a times, these god daughters will share
what they have received on their weibo account, which
often causes controversy over the internet, especially
if the said ‘god father’ is a member of the Communist
Party.
NE W TERM S OF THE MONTH

13. CHINA SNAPSHOT
NEW TERMS OF THE MONTH
POP CHINA

14. TV SERIES
LEGEND
OF ZHENHUAN
Legend of Zhenhuan is a 76-episode drama series
adapted from a novel of the same name. The series is
set in the Imperial Palace during Qing Dynasty (1544-
1911), with a plot centering around schemes between
Emperor Yongzheng’s concubines.
The series begin with a 17-year-old Zhen Huan who
had been selected as the Emperor’s new concubine,
however, soon after she enters the palace, she finds
herself caught in the fierce conflicts and competition
between the empress and the concubines. But with
her wit and talent and strong survival skills, Zhen fights
her way through and wins the emperor’s affection,
ultimately becoming the most powerful concubine in
the Imperial Palace and ascending to unparalleled glory
and wealth.
Legend of Zhen Huan has been praised as one of the
best historical dramas in China in recent years. Through
the series, audiences can also learn about ancient
Chinese poetry, fashion and wardrobe of the era, court
etiquettes, and herbal medicine.
POP CHINA

15. TV SERIES
XIN SHU
(ANGEL HEART)
Xin Shu is a modern day soap that explores the
interactions between doctors and patients in China.
In the past 10 years, doctors have been suffering from
public and media attacks due to unethical scandals, not
being able to save lives, etc. However, Xin Shu provides
an objective perspective on doctors, telling a story
without bending to populist views.
Xin Shu follows the daily lives of doctors, from
residents to fellows, as well as attending physicians
at a prestigious hospital in southern China. The show
focuses on the challenges faced within China’s medical
profession, even including doctor’s own personal safety.
Life as a doctor in China is increasingly a high-risk
profession, as disgruntled patients resort to physically
attacking doctors as a way to show anger towards their
failure. To improve physician safety, the government has
ordered all large hospitals and medical institutions to
open police stations on their premises.
However, netizens have been quick to point out that
the hospital in the show is much fancier than their
real-life equivalents, and hardly representative of
reality. Beijing Youth Daily’s online entertainment site
mocked the show, and quoted a viewer: “I watched
two episodes of Xinshu and feel it’s just a bunch
of handsome doctors and pretty nurses in hospital
whites.”
POP CHINA

16. MOVIE
Guns N’ Roses
Set in the 1930 in Manchuria, north-east region of
China, the movie tells a story of a group of young
Chinese men planning to raid a bank during the
Japanese occupation in China.
The director, Ning Hao, says it’s a coming-of-age film
with adventures in a chaotic era.
The film’s lineup of professionals include Let the Bullets
Fly cinematographer Zhao Fei and Korean action
director Yang Kil-young (Old Boy, Monga).
You may wonder why a Chinese movie would be
named after a Western rock band, but Ning Hao says
it is to pay tribute to a kind of idealism that the band
represents.
POP CHINA

17. MOVIE
FULL CIRCLE
Full Circle tells the story of a group of elderly people at
a nursing home, dealing with generational gap as well as
aging issues.
In the nursing home, the residents have been
abandoned by their children for various reasons and
none view it as their real home and none are able to
leave. One resident named Old Ge becomes the leader
of the group that rehearses their own show in order to
escape from the nursing home and get on TV to find his
daughter.
Director Zhang begins the film with tense conflicts and
despair, then injects it with optimism and hilarious plots.
During Old Ge’s adventure, tough family relationship
issues are resolved, wishes are fulfilled, and there is
forgiveness across the generations. If you’re up for a
feel good movie, this is the one to watch.
POP CHINA

18. MOVIE
WARRIORS OF
THE RAINBOW:
SEEDIQ BALE
The film depicts Taiwan’s half-century of Japanese
colonial rule from the point of view of a fierce tribe
of indigenous headhunters known as the Seediq. The
Seediqs were forced to deny their own culture and give
up their faith, causing an uproar of rebellion.
The film has already broken record as the most
expensive Taiwanese film ever made. It has been cut
to 152 minutes from 4 and a half hours when it was
released in mainland China but the box office remains
dull possibly due to the lack of familiarity with this
foreign tribe and it’s aboriginal culture.
POP CHINA

19. DOCUMENTARY A TV program titled A Bite of China hit CCTV last week
creating a huge discussion amongst Chinese audiences.
A BITE
The production team traveled to various places in
China to present audiences with the stories behind
food and the culture it contains.
OF CHINA The first part of the program examines specific
tastes while the second part studies the changes
and development food influenced by China’s social
economy.
Liu Wen, director of CCTV-9, said the point of the
program is to let foreigners admire Chinese food and
learn about cultural traditions and social changes.
POP CHINA

20. MUSIC
LOVE IN THE
BUFF OST
In Love in the Buff, the highly anticipated sequel to the
acclaimed romantic comedy Love in a Puff (2010),
director Pang Ho Cheung continues the love story
between Hong Kongers Jimmy (Shawn Yue) and Cherie
(Miriam Yeung) as they try to rekindle their romance in
Beijing.
The original soundtrack album composed by Alan Wong
and Janet Yung has gained a much better score from
audience than the movie. A couple of songs courtesy
are from Canada-based Mainland singer-songwriter Qu
Wanting.
One of the theme songs is the touching English ballad
Drenched, which became entirely popular soon after
the movie was released.
POP CHINA

21. MUSIC
OMNIPOTENT
YOUTH SOCIETY
Founded in the 90s, the band from Hebei changed its
English name from “The Nico” to “Omnipotent Youth
Society” in 2002 but still weren’t recognized until 2007.
Inspired by American rock band Blind Melon, their
style is melancholic and infused with Chinese elements
while lyrics are written poetically. They have also added
instruments such as violins, trumpets and harmonicas
into their composition. Their most famous singles
include ‘Qinghuangdao’ and ‘Kill That Man From
Shijiazhuang’.
This year, the band will begin a China tour in July with
Taiwanese post-rock band Sugar Plum Ferry in Beijing,
Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou.
POP CHINA

22. GAME
SEER
Seer is a virtual game world created for 7-14 year olds.
The game has picked up it’s popularity soon after its
release early this year. In the web game players are
required to explore the universe and search for new
energy.
Taomee, the game company, considers the game as
healthy, interesting, adventurous and smart, but parents
and school teachers have been concerned that it is
taking away too much time from their children.
Taomee’s other popular webgame Mole’s World and Seer
are both successful as brands for offline businesses.
Their miniature toys as well as it’s own cartoon show
have become particularly popular amongst primary
school kids in China.
POP CHINA

23. INTERNET
DOUBAN
READ
On May 7th, Douban became the newest Chinese web
company to launch a retail platform for ebooks. After
more than a year of programming, the Douban Read
platform is now live, selling both full-length ebooks and
shorter ‘works’. Most of the ‘works’ are priced at 1.99
RMB (30 cents), though longer works sell for as much
as 8 RMB. Books, by contrast, are priced at 9 or 10
RMB ($1,5 USD). Prices are set by Douban, and authors
receive 65-70% of net revenue.
The store provides content in four formats. Three are
meant for online viewing using Douban’s reading app:
on a web browser, on iOS devices, and on Android. The
fourth, the only downloadable format, is a mobi file for
use on the Kindle line. Douban has noted in the press
that the iPad version of its reading app is currently
most popular with readers.
Douban audience seem to have a distinct ‘personality’:
young, hip, perhaps a touch elitist. This is also visible
in the other content providers Douban has partnered
with, including Zhang Yueran’s youth literature magazine
Li, and the experimental fiction website Heilan.
POP CHINA

24. 2012.6
AUTHOR:
Charinee Chairasmisak / Leon Lin / Sue Wu
DESIGNER:
Ricky Li